MURRIETA: Nobody challenges school board incumbents

Murrieta district will be spared expense of election

Because no other candidates came forward to run in the Nov. 3
election, Murrieta school board members Robin Crist and Kris
Thomasian will likely have their terms extended for four years.

The 5 p.m. Friday deadline passed with no challengers seeking to
run against the incumbents, according to a preliminary list from
the Riverside County registrar of voters office. An official count
is expected Monday.

Both Crist and Thomasian had filed paperwork to run again.

In the absence of challengers, governing boards typically
reappoint the incumbents to new terms. It will be the second term
for both trustees.

The lack of candidates means the Murrieta Valley Unified School
District will be spared the expense of an election, which would
have totaled roughly $130,000, Superintendent Stan Scheer said.

"Not having to run an election right now is a huge plus," Scheer
said.

With California burdened by financial problems, school districts
have been receiving less money from the state. Districts have had
to cut programs and personnel as they've seen their income
shrink.

Crist and Thomasian both said the money for the election will be
better spent on students.

"That's (money) that's absolutely desperately needed in the
classroom," Thomasian said Friday evening. "It's a couple of
teachers, more library books, things for the kids. We've had to cut
so much."

From the district's founding in 1991 until the election of 2005,
an average of four candidates sought seats in each biannual board
election. But 2009 marks the second consecutive election with no
challengers.

"There has never been a shortage of candidates for school board
or City Council in Murrieta," Thomasian said. "To have this happen
twice, the community must really like the direction the district is
going."

Crist said the lack of challengers shows the community feels
well represented by the board, which includes Margi Wray, Ken
Dickson and Paul Diffley.

"It's very gratifying to know the community, for the most part,
is satisfied with the job we were doing," said Crist, the current
board president. "This is a confirmation that we had difficult
decisions to make and the community is good with them. Let's hope
that faith continues when times get tougher."

The lack of challenges shows that the local board is working
well, Scheer said.

"It's sort of a validation of what they're doing and there's
really no reason to have other candidates step up," Scheer said.
"Both of them have been excellent board members. It's quite an
endorsement."

The dire financial times could have dissuaded some candidates,
Thomasian said.

"They see the terrible position we're in deciding what to cut
next," she said. "There's some very difficult decisions probably
best left to people who have learned about school budgets. We can
just continue doing what we've been doing."

Keeping the board intact during tough financial times is a big
advantage, Scheer said. It allows the district to continue making
decision without having to train new members.

"It takes a while for a new board member to understand the
rhythm of what's going on," Scheer said. "Having them up to speed
is very useful to us. ... It's important for very practical reasons
to have this board in place right now."